Day 10: Something I Feel Strongly About

Some of these prompts are very taxing, but I suppose that’s exactly their purpose. Anyway, just a reminder that everything I’m writing about is my personal opinion, if you don’t agree that’s fine I’m not expecting that. So today, in this mad, mad world that seems to be imploding the thing for which I feel most strongly about is religion and the way it’s being used to maim, kill and wreck humanity.

I know it’s probably been the same since days of old, but these last few weeks seem to be filled with atrocities that I feel like doing a ‘Grandma Lamb’. Lily was my dad’s mum and whenever anything bad came on the telly she would turn around in her favourite swivel chair (which was pretty hard for her as her feet didn’t touch the ground) and refused to watch or listen. Ignorance isn’t the answer but what is?

I’m not religious, my parents did loosely connect with their christian faith when we were younger and we were packed off to Sunday School. But it’s not something I’ve felt I’ve needed. I have faith I suppose, not sure if I can label it or even if I should. We had a Humanist celebration for our wedding, which was wonderful. We wrote our own service, read out poems and lit three candles to symbolise the two of us becoming one. My aunt, uncle and cousin all had Humanist funerals, buried in wicker coffins and a service where we celebrated their life and my nephew had a naming ceremony rather than a christening.

I just hope that somehow we, as in the world, can find some kind of peaceful way of learning to respect and live with one another. Seems to me there is plenty of room and space to do so, just have to make it happen. Simplistic, perhaps…

Ciao for now,

*Humanism emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism, empiricism) over acceptance of dogma or superstition.